When
5RAR was raised at Holsworthy on 1 March 1965 it had been directed
by Army Headquarters that the battalion lanyard would be gold and
the unit colours would be gold and black. The first Commanding
Officer, LTCOL Peter Oxley OBE addressed the battalion and stated
that the tiger would be the symbol and the mascot for the new
battalion as it emphasised the desirable qualities of an infantry
battalion such as aggressiveness, cunning and courage.

On the departure of LTCOL Oxley, a benefactor of the battalion, Mr.
Bill Brennan presented a small silver tiger to be known as the
"Oxley Tiger" to the Officer's Mess. Mr. Brennan subsequently
presented other tiger centre pieces named after each Commanding
Officer to be

used
on formal occasions in the Officer's Sergeant's and Soldier's
Messes. This tradition continued through the linked days of 5/7 RAR
until the 1980's when Mr. Brennan passed away. Mr. Brennan also
presented a tiger skin for the bass drummer of the battalion band
and a tiger's head for display in the Officer's Mess.

After the unlinking of 5/7 RAR on 3 December 2006 5RAR was
again formed in its own right, the 5RAR Association indicated that
it would like to make a perpetual award to the battalion that would
create a lasting bond between the older and newer generation of
tigers.

It was considered impractical to return to the original concept of
presenting a separate tiger centre piece to be named after each
Commanding Officer. In cooperation with the then Commanding Officer
LTCOL Jake Ellwood, the Association decided that the best option was
to present a "Commanding Officers' Tiger" that would have
inscribed the names of all the Commanding Officers of 5RAR since the
battalion was first raised as well as incorporating all future
Commanding Officers.

The "Commanding
Officer's Tiger" is a limited edition Swarovski Crystal Society
creation which is a part of a trilogy on endangered wildlife. The
designer, Elizabeth Adamer has created the solitaire Annual Edition
2010 Tiger as a unique and stunning rendition of this elegant
predator. Using the latest Swarovski innovation which requires a
high-end intricate production process, the tiger's fully faceted
Golden Shine Crystal body allows whispers of satin crystal tiger
stripes to emanate through.